If you’re registered to attend MODEX 2016 (April 4-7 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta), then you’re probably hoping to learn more about the latest developments in material handling and warehouse automation solutions. If pallet, tote and trayautomated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) are on your radar specifically, then you won’t want to miss the FREE on-floor seminar presented by show-sponsor MHI’sAS/RS (Fixed Aisle) Industry Group (viastore is one of 21 different industry leading companies who participate in the group, whose mission is to educate, promote, develop and grow the use of AS/RS in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution).

Many companies have thought about automating their warehouse, but didn’t look into what it could do for their operation because of any multitude of reasons. Some weren’t sure how they could ever justify such an “enormous” investment. Some claimed they heard of someone else’s installation that was an epic disaster. Others have thought that their inventory profiles and handling processes are just too variable to do it with anything other than manual labor.

“My mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’” – Forrest Gump

Prevent unwelcome and unpleasant surprises in a new installation or upgrade that can cause setbacks in your schedule and budget.

Depending on your taste, it might be nice to discover a hunk of caramel hiding under that chocolate from the heart-shaped Valentine’s Day candy box—or not. But when it comes to an automation and/or software implementation in your warehouse or distribution center, the majority of surprises are unwelcome and unpleasant.

There’s an iconic TV commercial from the 1970s that illustrates the value of taking the time to do something right the first time (pay now), as opposed to later making significant repairs to correct mistakes (and pay MORE later). Don’t let this be your approach when it comes to “saving” money by replacing or adding the random piece of new or used equipment for your warehouse automation system. [Read more…]

In a previous post, we talked about how applying a localized, incremental warehouse automation solution can resolve a specific bottleneck within an operation for better productivity with a low to moderate level of investment. The point of that post (and this one) is that a material handling automation installation doesn’t always have to be an enormous undertaking—in both size and budget—in order to deliver a solid return on investment (ROI). Rather, it’s the functionality and flexibility of the installed equipment that can deliver the biggest impact when automating your warehouse. [Read more…]

Often, when thinking of warehouse automation, what comes to mind is a lights-out, fully-automated facility that accounts for every item in inventory and removes people from the operation. In reality, however, material handling automation can be applied incrementally, enhancing only the specific processes to maximize return on investment.

Testing on conveyor system installations doesn’t always have to a boring, uneventful affair. At viastore, we take testing a system to make sure its operational very seriously, but we still like to have a little fun.

In the U.S. Roadmap for Material Handling & Logistics, a report compiling what more than 100 industry thought leaders had to say about the future of material handling and logistics between now and 2025, several topics were discussed. Among them,10 major trends in the economy, technology and society that will shape the future of the industry were outlined. They include:

Getting work and stuff done is how America rolls. I think we get more stuff done through sure will power than lots of others. But are we doing it the right way? Is ‘burning the midnight oil’ every day the best thing to be productive? Maybe not.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to get work done. But if there was a way to get more done, by actually doing less, wouldn’t that be cool?